A View of the Jezreel Valley from Tel Megiddo
MEGIDDO NATIONAL PARK I had no idea what I would do with free time, if I had any, when I came to Um-El-Fahem, Israel. As it turned out, I had one free day. And, thanks to my trusty phone, I discovered where I wanted to go just before arriving at my destination. I saw a national park, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, that suddenly was on the top of my "to do" list. Um-El-Fahem is built among the hilltops. But, if you go down from that city, you come upon the vast Jezreel Valley. In ancient times, this area was a crossroads in between Egypt, Persia, and Turkey. The ancient city of Megiddo controlled the passage through the area. The historic city forms a tel, an archaeological mound, that ovelooks the valley. Megiddo National Park was my new "must see" destination.
It is estimated that Megiddo was inhabited from approximately 7000 (or 5000 depending on your source) BC to 350 BC. Many civilizations controlled the area over the centuries. It is perhaps some of the most fought over land in the history of the world. Great armies waged at least 34 battles across the terrain. Archaeological digs on the mound have uncovered 26 layers of different cities that were built upon the ruins of the previous dwellings. Megiddo was once a Canaanite city, an Egyptian fortress, a chariot city for ancient Jewish kings, and an important location for both the Assyrian and Persian empires. I found it fascinating to walk where a pharaoh and Biblical kings once walked. Among the discoveries unearthed are horse stables that may have belonged to King Solomon or King Ahab. More recently, in 1799, Napoleon visited the area and called the valley "the most natural battleground of the whole earth." And, in 1918, British General Edmund Allenby fought the Ottomans and Germans in the area. Yep, I was walking in the footsteps of history.
I read in the news that many places in Europe are completely overrun with tourists these days. It might be wise to avoid Amsterdam, Venice, Barcelona Paris, and Rome if you don't want to mingle with millions of people stepping on your toes or getting in your way. However, that was not my experience in Megiddo. I had an afternoon of silence as I climbed the tell and strolled along the ruins. I was the only person exploring. Yep, I had the place all to myself. It was quite unusual in my travels.
I love to read about excavations. I enjoy seeing all of the discoveries located. I just don't think I would like to actually do that work. How do the archaeologists ever figure out what they are looking at? How can they tell there are 26 layers of civilizations? Some things give you clues. In the pit that was a silo, I read that there was straw that was found among some of the rocks. In the area where the horses were kept, there were stone mangers where the horses were fed. (No sign of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in this manger location.)
On a clear day, you can see very far when atop the tell. The day of my visit was a little hazy. But, still, the Jezreel Valley was expansive.
An early Hebrew name of Megiddo Hill was Har Megiddo. From there, it's easy to see how the Greeks changed the name to Armageddon. Now, if that names rings a bell in your memory, you know that Megiddo has a long history, but it also has a prophetic future. In John's book of Revelation, in the New Testament of the Bible, Armageddon is mentioned the location of the last battle between good and evil, between Jesus and Satan. And, if you read your Bible, you already know who wins in that conflict. It's Jesus, in case you were not sure.
I thought it interesting that both Jews and Arabs knew about the future prophecy of Armageddon. Of course, with such a major end times location in your own backyard, it would be hard not to hear about it. Still, I was very glad to see the location with my own eyes. It never would have happened without my telephone. I had no idea I was wandering that close to such history.
The entrance to Tel Megiddo, ruins of a house on top of the tell.
Horse mangers and stalls, possibly built by King Solomon. So cool!